An animal rights group says the amount of animal research the
University of
Florida does is wrong - and costly.

Cincinnati-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now conducted an independent audit
of the National Institutes of Health, and report that Florida alone wastes
$61 million a year on redundant animal research.

Michael Budkie, executive director and author of the study, claims it's not
the animal research that's upsetting them this time - it's the wasted tax
money.

"There's a very high amount of duplication that's going on, to the point
where in some instances, we're seeing the same projects done literally
hundreds of times," Budkie said.

Budkie notes the number of experiments on animals also rose in 2001, almost
a 40% increase over a 10-year period. And those projects cost a whopping $8.5
billion.

Budkie admits some might say the study is biased, considering his
organization tries to stop animal exploitation. He counters that criticism,
though, by pointing out the entire study is available online and can be
duplicated.

University of Florida assistant director of Animal Care and Use, Robert
Vomocka, defends the university against allegations their studies are
redundant.

"It's the policy of the University of Florida to follow the federal
guidelines exactly," Vomocka said. "One of the prime things we consider in
animal research is to not do repetitive research. That would be redundant."